New Government figures for the final quarter of last year show a further 8,000 jobs shed from construction compared to the previous three months, taking the total workforce to just 2,128,000.

This means that since the peak in September 2008, nearly a quarter of a million jobs have been lost in construction. This equates to about one in 10 of the total workforce at that time.

House builders have seized on the latest job figures and have called for a stimulus package in next week’s Budget.

This includes the release of public sector land, help for first time buyers to get on the housing ladder and solutions to the mortgage famine.

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of HBF said: “This is a critical budget for the Government if it is serious about its commitment to increase housing supply and boost the economy.

“House building can be a crucial driver in creating jobs and investment. By tackling the record low levels of construction and our current housing crisis we could create 200,000 jobs a year.

“For this to happen, we need to see action taken to increase mortgage lending – especially to First Time Buyers – more public land being made available and a real reduction in regulation.”